A prominent member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has revealed that Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, originally intended to establish a restaurant when he returned to Ghana before eventually joining the fight for independence.
In an interview on Channel One TV, Otchere-Darko shared insights from historical documents, including letters written by Nkrumah, which shed light on his initial plans.
“Before Nkrumah came to Ghana, there is a book, Nkrumah’s Years Abroad, and I think some of the correspondence you can find at the Balm Library. Before he came to Ghana, there were letters that he had written to an uncle and his family members about looking for funds and what he wanted to do when he got to Ghana,” Otchere-Darko explained.
He continued, “He wanted to set up a restaurant, and he was asking for money. He was tired of being abroad and wanted to come to Ghana. But his focus was to set up a restaurant. In other correspondence, he was looking at whether he could set up a library.”
This revelation comes in the wake of ongoing debates about Nkrumah’s role in Ghana’s independence. During his 2024 Founders’ Day address on August 3, President Akufo-Addo reiterated his stance against the notion that Nkrumah alone founded Ghana.
He emphasized that the country’s independence was the result of collective efforts by many, not the work of a single individual.
“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge for ourselves that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
The president’s remarks have sparked reactions, including criticism from former President John Dramani Mahama, who accused the current administration of trying to rewrite Ghana’s history. Mahama has vowed to “reset all” if re-elected, maintaining that history should be respected and not altered.
Additionally, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, son of the late Kwame Nkrumah, has challenged President Akufo-Addo’s views, emphasizing that while his father was one man, he represented the aspirations of millions of Ghanaians. “What the President completely misses is that Nkrumah was one man, but he represented millions of Ghanaians, and that was exactly the grassroots connection he had,” Dr. Sekou Nkrumah remarked during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express.
These discussions continue to stir emotions and differing perspectives on the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the broader narrative of Ghana’s independence.